The ruling military junta in Niger has agreed to the terms and conditions outlining a transition back to civilian rule. The announcement was made by Togo’s Foreign Minister, Robert Dussey, who played a key role as a mediator in the negotiations. The agreement, encompassing both the content and timing of the transition, is set to be presented to the regional bloc and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission.
The negotiations come in the wake of the political turmoil in Niger, marked by the ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum in July through a coup. Following the coup, ECOWAS imposed stringent sanctions, including trade suspension, and floated the possibility of military intervention. These measures have left Niger, already one of the world’s poorest countries, facing severe economic challenges.
The military leaders in Niger, responding to the imposed sanctions, announced a 40% cut in the 2023 budget. The situation escalated further when ECOWAS leaders in Abuja stated that any relaxation of punitive measures against Niger would depend on a “short transition” period. A committee, comprising the presidents of Benin, Togo, and Sierra Leone, was formed to lead negotiations with Nigerien military leaders on the commitments to be implemented.
As part of the ongoing mediation efforts, Foreign Minister Robert Dussey is expected to return to Niamey in January, accompanied by his counterpart from Sierra Leone, Timothy Kabba. Meanwhile, ECOWAS has declared that Niger is “suspended from all decision-making bodies” of the organization until constitutional order is re-established.
The military leaders in Niger have expressed their desire for a transition period of up to three years before returning to civilian rule. In the aftermath of the coup, Niger, grappling with insurgencies by rebels affiliated with Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group, has scaled back security cooperation with Western partners and expelled French troops based in the country.